It’s early to be mentioning Christmas, but if you are going away you should start preparing now to protect your health while you travel. We recommend that you see a travel health adviser six to eight weeks before you depart on your trip.
Why do I need to get travel health advice six weeks before I go?
Seeing a travel health adviser should be part of everyone’s pre-holiday routine. As well as administering vaccines and providing malaria pills, travel health nurses can help with advice on avoiding food- and water-borne illnesses and on sun safety.
The reason we ask you to come and see a travel health nurse well in advance of your departure date is because some vaccines are given in multiple doses for complete, long-term protection.
Your body may also need time to build up its immunity in response to the vaccine.
Another reason to see a travel health nurse early is that if you need malaria prophylaxis, you may wish to take a short trial course before you go. This is because some people respond badly to certain malaria tablets. Your health adviser can then recommend another anti-malarial that is better suited to you.
And you’ll have to practise mosquito bite avoidance, too, as antimalarials do not provide complete protection. You need to start your course of antimalarials before you arrive in the area where malaria is a risk.
If you have a long-term health condition, as well as seeing a travel health nurse, you may wish to make an appointment with your normal healthcare provider. They will give you advice on managing specific risks to which you might be exposed on your travels over Christmas.
Is it too late to get travel vaccines for a Christmas vacation?
If you’ve decided to travel at the last minute to take advantage of a great deal, don’t worry. We can still help you to protect your health on your trip abroad. We offer same-day appointments. Our travel health clinics are centrally located, so it’s easy to get to your appointment, and we offer slots at the start and end of the working day. To make the most of your appointment time, bring details of your trip with you, and your vaccination history.
We can give some vaccine courses on accelerated schedules. Accelerated schedules may be slightly less effective or less long-lasting, but they will still reduce your risk of getting ill.
Our travel health advisers can help you to adjust your itinerary to avoid health risks and they will help you make decisions about high-risk activities, too. And they can give advice on reducing your exposure to some diseases, for example those spread via insect bites.
How do vaccines work?
If you are interested in learning more about your travel shots, The Government of Canada shares some facts about how vaccines work.
I’m looking for a travel clinic in Ottawa
Look no further than Canadian Travel Clinics if you need to go to a travel clinic in Ottawa. We can offer evening and early morning appointments for your convenience. Book online now.